Given the choice of having a meal anywhere in the Highlands, I’d chose The Mountain Cafe in Aviemore everytime. Light, bright and airy, it’s open for breakfasts and lunches every day (see the Facebook page to be sure) and is a wonderful place for a coffee and cake or a satisfying meal after a Cairngorms hillwalk or a Feshie cycle. It’s ridiculously popular. There’s rarely been a visit where I haven’t had to queue for a table for 10/20 minutes but it has never ever put me off. I know what’s waiting inside.

The Scottish breakfasts are perfectly cooked with high quality ingredients; the sandwiches have freshly baked breads and generous fillings; the soups are just beautiful; and I challenge any salad-hater to remain so after trying one at the Mountain Cafe.

My favourite dishes are the kiwi fritters. They used to only serve the Kiwi Sweetcorn fritters (which were excellent) but now do a Fritter of the Day. The below recipe (kindly shared by Kirsten, the owner and head chef) has been my favourite so far.